Classic Match

JONES HIBBITT (Bates)

O’GRADY

MADELEY BREMNER LORIMER

COOPER HUNTER CHARLTON REANEY SPRAKE

Ferencvaros 0 Leeds United 0 (Leeds win 1-0 on aggregate) Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Final Second Leg Wednesday September 11, 1968, 7.45pm Nep Stadium, Budapest Attendance 76,000 Referee Gerhard Schulenberg (West Germany) Ferencvaros (4-4-2): Geczi, Novak, Pancsics, Havasi, Juhasz, Szucs, Szoke (Kraba), Varga, Albert, Rakosi, Katona.

In the spirit of LLL magazine, Jon Howe takes a retro look at some of our most memorable moments.

Looks like we’ve sussed this European A tactical masterstroke, then?  Gary Sprake lark?! Indeed. In our first three years of Undoubtedly. Defending a slender one-  Paul Madeley European competition we have undertaken goal lead from the first leg, Leeds were  Mick Jones a natural progression from semi-finalists, never going to leave the proverbial back  Terry Cooper to losing finalists, to winners. Not only door open for next door’s cat to rummage that, we are the first British winners of – as through our larder. Revie played a lone Revie called it pre-match – the “toughest frontman in first-leg goalscorer Mick Jones, European trophy”. From here, the Don will and employed a solid five-man midfield. be looking to win the league title and With Jimmy Greenhoff controversially sold make an assault on the European Cup, in the month and four days since the first outrageous as that might seem. Even if leg and with Giles and Gray injured, the this final was delayed to the start of a new inexperienced Terry Hibbitt played wide season – two trophies in one campaign right. But it was Madeley and Bremner points towards those kind of fairy-tale who controlled the middle, with the usual ambitions now. culprits forming an impenetrable back-four, Nobody can doubt we were worthy and behind them Gary Sprake had the winners tonight? Doubtless some of the game of his life. praise will be begrudging, given the less Credit where it’s due: It’s a shame so few than decorative manner in which we won Leeds fans were here to witness it, because Magic over the two legs, against a team many Sprake has his detractors. But tonight he claim to be the best passers in the game. was simply magnificent and on at least two Number First leg goal from However, Leeds have learnt fast, and in 90 occasions pulled off world-class saves to Mick Jones secures minutes of unbearable tension we formed sap the Magyars’ strength at vital times. our first European a human barrier of white shirts, and did It was a war of attrition, presumably? trophy. what Zagreb dished out to us last season. Yes, and the longest 90 minutes I can 1 had a free-kick right on the edge of the area, which was struck sweetly by Novak. Sprake can only have had a split second to see the shot, stood as he was behind Leeds’ wall, but he dived to his left and punched the venomous strike clear one-handed. The power on the shot combined with the force engaged in Sprake’s left wrist propelled the ball high, wide and handsome into the stands. A phenomenal save and, as the ball fizzed into the night sky, with it went remember. Leeds started calmly, many crosses out he must have the the Magyars’ strength and hope. but with a daunting menace the ball manufacturer’s logo imprinted on How were the Leeds fans? Inaudible Hungarians fed on the unsettling, his forehead. against the shrill din created by the white-hot atmosphere of the Nep But Sprake was the real hero? partisan but ultimately disgruntled Stadium and gradually got their game Cold war tensions had questioned Hungarians. Also invisible, as Bremner together, putting us under sustained the wisdom of Leeds travelling to and co paraded the trophy to a largely pressure. Wave after wave of attacks communist Hungary, but Sprake’s indifferent crowd. were repelled, although we did have match-winning display wouldn’t Best Leeds player? Madeley was rare break-outs, such as when Jones have held the same invincible aura immense as were all the back four, skimmed the crossbar with a header of heroism within the backdrop of but this was Sprake’s moment; simply in the 33rd minute. an insipid neutral ground. He saved unbeatable. All hands to the pump? Exactly, but magnificently from an Istvan Szoke In a nutshell? Fearless, courageous, it was inevitable in pulling off one strike in the first half, smothered victorious. of the greatest defensive displays bravely at the feet of Florian Albert you will ever see. Cooper executed in the second half and withstood a Follow Jon Howe on Twitter @jonhowe1971 an overhead kick to clear a Rakosi barrage of testing shots and crosses turn-and-shot off the line, Hunter in the meantime. But it was his save smothered everything and Charlton in the last minute of normal time was imperious in the air, heading so that will be remembered. Ferencvaros 68 69